Solar Panels for Churches

Solar panels are a great option to control high electricity bills that affect the budget. By installing solar panels, converting sunlight into electricity reduces costs and increases savings. These savings can be used to support other church activities and society.
Solar panels control pollution and clean up the environment, which shows the church’s promise. It is a long-term investment that provides reliable power and a pollution-free, green environment for everyone.
If the church administration is considering installing solar panels in churches, this blog will help you as we discuss every aspect of solar system installation in depth.

Purpose of adopting Solar panels in Churches

There are many beneficial purposes for adopting solar panels. First, installing solar panels reduces bills. This is a huge savings resource that can be used directly for community support. It also reduces carbon footprint and pollution, which invites a greener and cleaner future.
Installing solar panels increases the value of a church’s property, and the presence of solar panels can attract potential future buyers as a helpful asset that saves energy.
It also can be used as an educational example of caring for the earth by reducing pollution and promoting a clean environment. Overall, this source of energy supports the churches’ values and goals.

Solar in Action at Churches

Solar panels are an effective alternative to converting energy into electricity in churches. Most churches have installed solar panels on their roofs to get electricity from the sun. This not only reduces electricity cost but also manages the polluted environment. Reducing electric utility bills is a great way to save money that can be used for church building and other community projects. Solar panels also make assets valuable.
By installing solar panels, churches can demonstrate how new technology can support their mission without impacting the community.

Methods of Solar Financing for Churches

As the solar installations require a significant amount, solar financing can be a good option. There are various methods to finance solar panels. Few of them are as under

Federal solar tax credit

A 30% reduction in the annual tax credit is available on the purchase of solar systems nationwide. It is also applicable for the churches.

Local incentives for solar installation

A thorough research is required to know the local incentives offered in the relevant area. Almost all states offer various local incentives on solar system installation.

Power purchase agreement

In this, churches can make an agreement to purchase green energy from a community solar system at retail prices.

Solar Loans

Solar loans are also available to fund the solar system installation in churches.

Benefits of Solar Panels for Churches

There are many benefits of installing solar panels. Here are some that we will discuss.

Significant Savings on Energy Costs

If the homeowner uses an average unit of 899 kWh, the electricity bill will be $147.71. That means 16.43 cents per kWh is charged in the US. The average monthly use of church is much higher than the home usage. If you install solar panels in the church, you can reduce the bills because when you get power from the sun, the need to get energy from the grid is reduced. You also avoid unexpectedly high electricity bills.

Environmental Impact

Churches install solar panels to try to clean the climate and stay pollution-free. Harvesting energy from the sun helps reduce harmful carbon footprints and creates a greener future for everyone.

Increases Property Value

Solar panels on roofs increase the value of the property and attract buyers. If churches decide to sell and lease property, it is easier for them to attract future buyers with solar systems because solar systems save energy and reduce electricity bills.

Low Maintenance and Reliability

It also has the advantage of being low-maintenance and reliable for churches. You can get energy for at least 25 years after installation with cost-effective maintenance expenses.
To ensure that they work efficiently, there are costs such as periodic checks and occasional inspections.

Leads by Example

The use of solar panels in churches positively impacts the community. It encourages others to install renewable energy, and it can also inform communities to install them for a clean environment.

Energy Independence

The installation of solar panels in churches allows the generation of energy from the sun, reducing the need for energy from the grid. You can also use a storage battery to store energy for emergencies. Solar panels protect us from fluctuating electricity bills.

Cons of Solar Panels for Churches

Solar panels on churches have their advantages as well as their disadvantages. Some are discussed here.

Variable Energy Production

Solar panels depend on the weather. If it is cloudy or stormy, it can affect energy production. They have fewer hours to generate energy during the day and cannot generate electricity at night.

Space Requirements

Installing solar panels in churches is difficult because churches usually don’t have enough space. Suppose there is a place to install solar panels on buildings. In that case, the second thing is to ensure that there are no buildings or tree shadows around the church’s roof because they can become a barrier between the solar system and the sun, affecting energy production.

Energy Storage Costs

Energy storage batteries are expensive. The church must purchase them to store energy for overnight and unexpected situations, such as outages.
Moreover, these batteries need more space to meet long-term energy needs.

List of Churches that are using solars in the USA

• Church of the Palms UCC, Sun City, Arizona
• Park Hill UCC, Denver, Colorado
• First Congregational United Church of Christ, Indianapolis, Indiana
• First UCC of Northfield, Northfield, Minnesota
• Normandy Park United Church of Christ, Seattle, Washington
• First Congregational UCC, Bakersfield, California
• Community Congregational UCC, Absarokee, Montana
• Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church UCC, Hanapepe, Hawaii
• Faith Congregational Church, Port Saint Lucie, Florida
• United Church of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Pioneer Ocean View UCC, San Diego, California
• Faith Congregational Church, Port Saint Lucie, Florida
• First Congregational UCC, Greeley, Colorado
• Urbandale United Church of Christ, Urbandale, Iowa
• Northfield Community Church UCC, Northfield, Illinois
• Rincon Congregational UCC, Tucson, Arizona
• First Congregational UCC, Guilford, Connecticut
• Kapaa United Church of Christ, Kapaa, Hawaii
• Dennis Union, Dennis, Massachusetts
• Guilford Community Church, UCC, Guilford, Vermont
• St. Peter’s UCC, Champaign, Illinois
• Congregational UCC, Punta Gorda, Florida
• Church of the Crossroads, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Congregational Church of South Hempstead UCC, South Hempstead, New York
• Edwards Church UCC, Framingham, Massachusetts
• First Congregational United Church of Christ, Elgin, Illinois
• Bethlehem UCC, Evansville, Indiana
• The New Church – Chiesa Nuova UCC, Dallas, Texas
• Ames United Church of Christ, Ames, Iowa
• Newtown Congregational UCC, Newtown, Connecticut
• Skyline Community Church UCC, Oakland, California
• Urbandale United Church of Christ, Urbandale, Iowa
• Christ Church United Lowell, Massachusetts
• First Congregational UCC, Bellingham, Washington
• United Church of Chester, Chester, Connecticut
• East Congregational UCC, Milton, Massachusetts
• Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne, UCC, Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Holladay UCC, Holladay, Utah
• Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
• The Oasis UCC, Jefferson City, Missouri
• St. Paul UCC, Columbia, Illinois
• Community of Hope UCC, Madison, Wisconsin
• Richmond Beach Congregational UCC, Shoreline, Washington
• Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, Arlington, Virginia
• First Congregational Church of San Jose, San Jose, California
• Second Congregational Church of Bennington, Bennington, Vermont
• Friends Congregational UCC, College Station, Texas
• Wapping Community Church, South Windsor
• Ebenezer UCC, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• United Christian Church, Levittown, Oklahoma
• Presbyterian United Church of Christ, Saratoga Springs, New York
• Kirk of Bonnie Brae, Denver, Colorado
• Ames United Church of Christ, Ames, Iowa
• First Congregational UCC, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Cost of Solar Panels for Churches

Before installations, Churches need to know the costs of installing solar panels. The average price of solar energy is 12000 to 16000 for a 5 kW system, depending on various aspects discussed below.

Panel Type and Quality

In particular, solar panels’ cost depends on the panel type. Different types of solar panels are available on the market, such as monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Monocrystalline panels are of high quality and work efficiently, but they are also more expensive than other varieties.
Choose panels while keeping in mind the cost and duration of work.

System Size and Energy Needs

The solar system depends mainly on size. More panels produce more energy and are costly.
They must invest more if churches want to rely on solar panels for their electricity needs.

Installation Costs

The type of roof for installation and labor are factored into solar panel installation costs. If the church building is historic and complex and doesn’t have enough space, the cost of modification is also included in installing a solar system.

Challenges associated with solar panels for churches

Solar panels are a great option for saving money on bills, making long-term investments, and achieving a pollution-free environment. However, churches may face a few challenges in adopting this option. Let’s discuss these challenges.

Cost of Installation

Installing solar panels can be expensive, but buying and installing panels is potentially a good investment in the long run. Churches cannot afford them because they usually have limited budgets. They can keep in touch with programs that are working to help religious institutions.

Roof Space and Condition

A 1kW solar system requires an area of 100 square feet and a shade-free location to work effectively. If the church’s roof is historic and complex, and most importantly, it is in the shadow of the buildings and trees around the church, it needs to be modified. Modified costs add to the overall charges and delay the installation of solar systems.

Maintenance and Reliability

Solar panels require periodic and annual maintenance to function correctly. Weather conditions like storms and snow falls also affect them. In extreme weather areas, solar panels need to be adequately checked by professionals.

Regulations and Permits

Installing solar panels requires a permit and approval. Be sure to follow local regulations before installing a solar system. Additional regulations may apply to protect a church located in a historic area.

Funding Options Available for Solar Panels for Churches

Following are the funding models for churches solar panel installations.

Direct Donation Model

In this model, the individuals donate a specific amount directly to the churches which install solar panels. These persons receive a specific percentage of tax deduction in their annual tax set by the government.

LLC Funding Model

LLC stands for the Limited Liability company. It is a funding model which consists of an individual, many individuals, a business or a non profit organization. In this setup, the LLC involved parties donate an amount for the solar installation and take the advantages of tax deduction and rebates. This model is suitable for the organizations and businesses which have a huge net worth and look to reduce the taxes. The ownership of the solar system remains under the LLC entity. Once the charitable amount is fully utilized in terms of tax deductions, the LLC can transfer the ownership to the church.

Third Party Payer Model

In this model, the church approaches a third party (business or an established individual with a good net worth ) to arrange the finances for the solar system installation. The third party receives the benefits and owns the solar system for 10-15 years. After this, they can offer the ownership to the church.

You can also read more: Solar Panel for Hotels

Conclusion

Solar panels are an excellent option for churches to control their electricity bills and save more money for other community and church-building purposes. They also provide a cleaner environment and prevent carbon footprints.Churches can face several challenges in installing solar panels, including the cost of roof space and installing high-quality solar that is optimal for the long term. However, many funding programs, such as federal tax credits and grants that support religious institutions, are available to help.